Lately, I was getting this message, but I was still unsure of myself and therefore held back from writing. I ignored his very unfair attacks on the teaching profession and the union representing it. I also ignored his attacks on the few individual voices we have who are in favour of the environment, as well as environmental NGOs.

But after reading his long-winded and never-ending article entitled “Thoughts of solitary walks”, I have now come to the absolute conclusion that Stephen Calleja is no longer focused, that he is losing the sense of priorities in life and that basically, as far as I am concerned at least, he no longer has anything worthwhile to say, through his pen.

And I don’t say this with reference to his disgusting attacks on the teaching profession (which is so close to my heart) or the Ramblers’ Association. I say this with reference to his sense of priorities with regard to the duty of wardens who, he claims, should be bringing to book those dog-owners who do not clean after their dogs, rather than looking for drivers using their mobile phones. In fact, I quote him: “Maybe councils would make more money if they sent a warden to book these people (dog-owners) than having them hide behind trees and in telephone boxes ready to pounce, like Rambo, on drivers talking on their mobile phone.”

I never thought that Mr Calleja believes that wardens are there for councils to ‘make more money’. This, in itself, is a serious accusation that deserves an answer from none other than the Ministry of Justice.

However, what really irked me is the fact that Mr Calleja would rather have people booked for not cleaning up after their dogs, than for using the mobile phone while driving.

Now, ask any fool abroad and he’ll tell you all about the seriousness of using a mobile phone while driving. But in Malta, Mr Calleja calls a warden who books such a person a Rambo! What wisdom! What civic sense, indeed! Calleja simply dismisses the monstrosity of this crime-at-the-wheel, which in more civilised countries than ours is treated on a par with driving under the influence of alcohol!

But for Stephen Calleja, it seems that it’s what hits him personally at a given moment, that inspires him to write. Notice the way he pats himself on the shoulder for having been instrumental, through his writing, to having the streetlights where he lives lit again.

It certainly appears that Stephen Calleja has had a lot of time on his hands recently. I would tell him to get back to administration and leave the writing to people who have plenty of subjects on their minds to write about and do not make it a point in life to write simply on a personal whim or just to tease people and rub them the wrong way. He seems to enjoy doing this.

Franco Farrugia

PIETA